The Calcutta Photo Tours Blog

A visit to the blog after ages and what better day to re-vist it, than Earth Day. OK, Earth Day just happened to happen today. What really prompted the visit and the desire to write here again on a regular basis (fingers crossed, it is such a discipline that I am clearly not disciplined enough for that, nor prolific a writer to able to churn out so much content) was this absolutely wonderful discussion I had this morning with a guest from Italy - who was excited enough to start soaking in the city, that she and her husband chose to start their Calcutta experience from the airport itself. Well, in all honesty it was a special conversation because English wasn’t her strength and my Italian was limited to Google translate and an occasional “si”, “bellissimo” “bella” but there was so much to be discussed, so much to share, such cultural exchanges to be made. What prompted this particular discussion was this sight - and me uttering the words “urban decay” as we photographers usually ...

In Calcutta, one never ceases to be surprised. What this city, time and again, makes me realize, is that I should never take it for granted.  On one of my photo tours in Kumartuli – the artisans’ colony, where many a beautiful clay idols are created day in and out – I was marveling at the beauty all around. Idols in their various stages of completion - all vying for the attention of the cameras that were making their way through the lanes - were bringing a smile on the faces of my guests and admiration for the artists. One is expecting this – the symphony of straw being tied, of it nearly taking the shape of the sinew of a ferocious lion biting onto Mahishasur’s arm, the dull, damp sound of clay being kneaded just to the right consistency and texture for that perfect finish on Ma Durga’s face. A splash of paint here, an eye being painted there – everything in that place connects me to my soul. Peaceful! And it appeals also to the guests who are walking with me. They are fascina...

Armed with a camera, Calcuttans are all set to walk through the corridors of culture in the city this December along with celebrated photographer Samir Hussein . Calcutta Photo Tours, a travel company that has been formed with the spirit of celebrating the variegated flavours of good old Calcutta, is organising an exclusive photo tour in aid of Hope Kolkata Foundation on Friday, December 13, 2013. The tour will provide a glimpse of the cultural kaleidoscope of the City of Joy. A tour conceived by Calcutta Photo Tours it aims to introduce the participants to various communities like the Chinese who made the city their home and gave it its amazing Chinese food to the oldest surviving Christian tomb, the tour promises to be a photographer’s delight. The cultural potpourri will also provide a chance to know amazing facts about various other communities who made Calcutta home and who now form an integral part of Calcutta and taste the local food. The proceeds of the ...

Calcutta's First Photo Tour company gets featured in today's "The Telegraph". A very heartfelt Thank You to all the well-wishers! Would not have been possible without your best wishes! The photographs in this article are from the World Photography Day tour and the Scott Kelby Worldwide Walk. To read the article online please click here : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121108/jsp/entertainment/story_16171104.jsp#.UKOVPIavNEJ For more details look up here: Web  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Blog | Instagram If you have been on a tour with us, do review us on Trip Advisor by clicking  here !

It was Independence Day! 15th August 2012. The country had been Independent for 65 years!  It meant different things to different people. Since my childhood, Independence Day was special in it's own ways. My earliest memories of the day meant getting a chance to hoist my very own hand-made paper flag, which used to be pasted around a stick with fevicol. Of course the process would not been complete without the preparation that went into the making of that flag the day before. It was like my little being was paying homage to something that was so important. Independence Day! With time, the paper flag turned into a cloth one... and a little bit of more money turned into the fine silky one! THAT was special! With time I lost the motivation to hoist one on my roof... lost respect for the day? No! Not really! Lost innocence, perhaps! There was another tradition that really went hand in had with Independence Day celebrations - yeah besides the "holiday", the patriotic s...

It is that time of the year when Kumartuli is in a phase of heightened activity... Everything seems to be moving faster... Work is on full swing for the Pujos which are fast approaching. The straw work is mostly over, the basic structure is ready, and the models of clay and mud are finally getting an identity... a face! The hands which are moulding these faces perform nearly an act of worship... one is creating God. Measured moves - a result of years of doing the same thing each year... What a feeling just to be in the presence of these artisans! Wow! It is really an amazing time for one to go photographing here. Just so much to shoot. And then there are times when one notices something funny... something that was not in the scheme of things. Like this artisan wearing an "Enter The Dragon" tee with the "Demon" drying itself out in the sun. Come, lets explore this wonderful little world of Kumartuli. For more details about the vario...

Some times it does not matter what camera you are using... I really strongly believe in getting the picture... yes, the picture might not be "accepted" in a lot of places... but as an artist, as someone who likes photography and the pure joy of "creating" an image the mega pixels or the "D" before or after a few numbers really do not make a difference. If I had let this moment go by, I would have  let this moment go by. As simple as that... But here I was out to get some provisions and I saw this cycle stocked up all the way with these plastic crates stacked one on top of the other. It was such a long stack that the cycle just seemed to be there as a formality... And all I had was my phone - I must admit Instagram is making me use my phone camera much much more - so I did not waste a moment and here is the result. I just let someone pass by the stack.. just to give an idea of how tall this  really was! Do follow us on our Facebook page and...